Wow, so i haven't updated sinc like september, thats like half a year...........I am really sorry i could blame it on a number of things but the truth be told there are two reasons one i just didn't write all that much and 2 this chap gave me hell. not that anyone is reading this. on to the chap
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"You will work for us Alex or you will suffer."
Veritas spoke these words as he approached Alex who was lying on the ground in the aftershock of electricity coursing through his body. Alex stared at Veritas in disbelief; they had given him a shock anklet, to keep him in line. There was no way he was getting out of this one today.
Alex dragged himself slowly to his feet, aware of the tingling that still surged through his muscles. When he stood on his own two feet again he stared the man straight in the face. Veritas was at least a head taller than Alex but at that moment, Veritas was dwarfed by the sheer power with which Alex bore himself and the passion in his voice.
"I will never work for you. You have no desire but the pain of the innocent and the blood of the good. Your twisted minds could never grasp all the pain you have caused. I will rot in hell before I am the cause of it. In other words Dr. Veritas, kiss. My. Ass."
Veritas narrowed his eyes at the boy's reply, it would take time to break this one, but he would see it done. He would have the pleasure of seeing the great Alex Rider fall at his feet and beg for a mercy that he would not find. It would be delicious indeed.
Two operatives walked in the door through which Alex himself had come. The positioned themselves on either side of the door waiting for a signal from Veritas. The doctor smiled, he would enjoy breaking this one, but he would not accomplish it here, not today.
"Men! Take the prisoner to his cell. Ensure two guards are posted outside the door at all times and make it a cell with no windows." The two guards nodded and approached the boy standing defiantly in the middle of the floor. As soon as they were within arm's reach Alex did the only thing that came naturally. He attacked.
Alex lashed out at one man and then rounded on the other with a round house kick to the chest. Before he could celebrate, the first man was on him again. Alex aimed the heel of his hand towards the other man's nose. At the last second the man moved and took the blow to the jaw instead.
That was Alex's one fatal mistake. By moving to avoid a direct hit, the operative had avoided a debilitating, possibly mortal, blow. The hit to the jaw was painful, but nothing a trained assassin couldn't handle. As Alex recovered the man landed his first blow in Alex's gut. After that, it was over much too quickly.
The second man recovered and attacked the already winded teen, and together they took him down. Not long after that Alex found himself in a small cell with no windows, no light and no way out.
Alex leaned back on the old bedspread remembering the anger he had felt those first few days, he remembered how all too soon the anger had been replaced with despair. One day had melded into another and Alex had no idea how long had passed. He would wake, stare, be beaten, sleep and repeat the process all over again.
Staring at the ceiling of the French motel Alex shivered thinking about how close he had come to being their slave. How close they had come to breaking him those days in the cell. Where there was nothing to look forward to and no way of knowing how many days had passed. Eventually Alex had decided that Veritas had probably sent someone to beat him once a day so he had started counting the beatings. He had received 7 beatings so he thought he had been gone for just over a month but he couldn't be certain.
Alex looked at the clock, it was time. He got up and left the motel heading to a different pay phone than the one he had previously occupied. Digging the last of his change out of his pocket Alex dialed home.
"Hello?" Jack answered the phone.
"Hey it's Ian."Alex said holding his breath.
"Oh hello Ian, I was hoping you would call!" Jack should have gone into Acting Alex mused before replying.
"Really, why?"
"Well I went to the bank today to talk about your account problems and they said that they'll be sending a representative right over."
"That's excellent, did they say when."
"They said it should be before six tonight and that they'll take you to dinner at the Palais en Cristal on their dime! Isn't that exciting?"
"Very, well it was lovely speaking with you again; I hope to visit after I finish my business here."
"I'll hold you to it!"
"Bye."
"See ya soon Ian!" to most people Jack would have sounded completely normal but Alex could hear the anxiety in her voice.
Alex looked at his watch, it was 5:45, he had to find the Palais en Cristal, or the Crystal Palace soon. Asking direction from a local Frenchman Alex soon arrived at the high-class restaurant. He entered the elegant doors and found himself in a crowded, dimly lit dining room. The host glared at his dirty clothing when he approached.
"May I help you?" the man asked in disgust, narrowing his eyes Alex responded coolly.
"Ian Rider, I believe someone is waiting for me." The fat man looked at his list before nodding.
"Oui, monsieur there is and I am to take you to them straight away. Alex nodded as the man grabbed a decorative menu and beckoned him to follow. They past lovers and families and people of all sorts before coming to a halt near the back of the room where someone sat alone at a table holding up a menu. The menu obscured the persons face but Alex could see the its hands and surmised that the figure was a woman.
Alex was handed a menu before the host departed.
"Ian, Have a seat won't you?" the woman said from behind the menu, Alex complied. After sitting, the woman lowered the menu to reveal the always serious face of Mrs. Jones.
"How are you Alex?" she said softly, dropping pretense.
"I'm fine, how's Jack?"
"She fine though, distraught over you of course. I must say we were shocked when she showed up at the Bank claiming to have heard from you. We were skeptical, of course, but it really is you!" Then Mrs. Jones did something completely out of character, she got up walked over to him and hugged him. Alex gasped in both surprise and pain. Mrs. Jones pulled back and almost looked concerned…almost.
"Are you alright?" Alex nodded but the pain stabbing through his still healing body said otherwise.
"We should get going." She said reverting back to her business like self. Alex nodded and stood, following her back through the tables and out the door. Neither noticed the man watching them, not even when he opened a cell phone and spoke softly into it.
Outside the air was cool and crisp Mrs. Jones wrapped a jacket around herself and beckoned Alex to follow. They walked down several streets before a car pulled up and both got inside. For awhile no one said anything. Cars moved through the city lanes around them, but in the car all was deathly silent.
"Alex…" Mrs. Jones began, she never got the chance to finish. A gunshot ripped through the air as one of the car's tires blew out. The car lurched and Mrs. Jones looked at Alex once again all business.
"That must be Scorpia, Alex. They're after you! We have to get you back to England." She reached into her coat pocket and produced a passport, cell phone and 9mm pistol.
"Do NOT use that unless you have no choice. You need to get to Flamage Airstrip now, there's a plane waiting to take you back to England." Another tire blew out almost making the driver lose control. "GO!"
Alex didn't need to be told twice. He flung open the door and rolled off the road. Ignoring his aching body, Alex stumbled to his feet and began to run. More gun shots peppered the pavement behind him as he ran. He had to keep moving!
Alex stole a glance back and saw two people on motorcycles wielding semi-automatic machine guns pointed straight at him. Alex redoubled his efforts. The motorcycles were gaining, there was no way he could out run them. His only chance was to surprise them and get out of view before they could react.
He searched the road for options. There! A small alley between two buildings a little more than 100 yards away. It was his only chance, but could he make it that far!
He sprinted zigzagging to avoid the spray of bullets that smacked into the sidewalk behind him.
50 yards.
The cyclists were almost upon him.
25 yards
More bullets
10 yards a hand reached toward him, trying to pull him back into a life of slavery.
"No!" He shouted and darted into the alley. The cyclists were surprised but quickly got over it and went to chase him down the alley. Alex arrived at the end of the alley and found himself on a bridge over a wide canal. On the other side Alex could see more cyclist heading toward him. Alex's eyes widened, he was trapped!
Looking around, Alex found his only option and climbed over the rail. The cyclists arrived and Alex turned to face them. One of them turned off his bike and got off. He looked at Alex and then removed his helmet. He was a fairly tall man, with blonde hair and blue eyes, when he spoke it was with a distinct German accent.
"Come now Alex, be reasonable. We only want you to come home." He said mockingly.
"That Place is not my home! Just leave me alone!" the man snorted.
"I am afraid that we cannot do zat Alex. Even if that means forcing you to come back with a bullet in both your legs." To Alex it sounded like he was really hoping for the latter. Alex glared at the man.
"I'm never going back!" Alex spread his arms, "Ever!" he shouted and allowed himself to fall backwards off the bridge.
"NO!" The Scorpia man yelled as he ran to edge just in time to see the splash. He growled the kid had escaped them once again, if he had survived the fall, the man would make sure Alex paid dearly. Man opened his cell and pressed the Speed dial.
"Colon to headquarters, the boy jumped off a bridge….Yes sir…Yes sir…right away sir." Colon sent on last look to the water bellow before heading back to his bike.
"Let's move!" he shouted to his men and they rode off.
A few minutes later Alex heaved himself out from under the bridge's metal work and headed towards the airport. When people passed over the bridge the next day, they would wonder what had happened to the stone flower pot that had once adorned the bridge.
Okay so this was alot longer than the othe one so be happy. and now i'm doing an experiment. I want to see how many people acctually read these AN's so if you're reading this submit a reveiw with your thoughts and the words "Mi tortuga es en Fuego" an i'll mention you in the next chap if you tell me what it means i'll let you PM me with what you want to happen to poor alex next! ready and GO!
GD